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Bill Would Boost Power Of Nurse Practitioners
March 26, 2015
Wading into a fierce debate in the health-care industry, a House panel Wednesday approved a bill that would increase the authority of advanced registered nurse practitioners to care for patients.
The House Health Innovation Subcommittee voted 9-4 to approve the measure (HB 547), sponsored by Rep. Cary Pigman, R-Avon Park. The bill, in part, would allow nurse practitioners to prescribe controlled substances. Also, it would allow nurse practitioners who meet certain requirements to be designated as “independent advanced practice registered nurses,” which would allow them to provide many services without physician supervision.
“This is about trying to establish some economies and efficiencies and competition in health care,” said Pigman, a physician. “This is predicated on a notion that we cannot continue to increase spending on health care doing what we’re doing now.” Though Pigman is a physician, he differs from doctors’ groups that have long fought efforts to expand the powers of nurse practitioners. Those critics argue, in part, that nurse practitioners don’t have the same training as physicians.
“This is not what I believe is best for Florida patients, and as legislators we should be careful not to award titles and privileges through legislation but rather leave it to education,” said Rep. Ronald “Doc” Renuart, a Ponte Vedra Beach Republican who is a physician.
by The News Service of Florida
Comments
7 Responses to “Bill Would Boost Power Of Nurse Practitioners”
I read the comments and would like to say not all doctors are incompetent and not all nurses are incompetent.
1. ALL STATES EXCEPT FLORIDA HAS BEEN ALLOWING NURSE PRACTITIONERS (NP) TO PRESCRIBE MEDICATIONS AND OTHERS DUTIES THAT FLORIDA IS RESTRICTING.
2. NPs had to take advanced courses just as doctors for Pharmacology and Pathophysiology.
3. I have caught many errors that a medical doctor have made especially in prescribing medications. When I take my kids to the doctor, I request a NP because they spend the time to assessed.
4. WHY IS FLORIDA SO BEHIND TIME! So many restrictions. WHAT MAKES another state able to with the same training but Florida doctors fighting against it. (MONEY IN THEIR POCKETS) .
I have several conditions that must be managed by both myself and competent medical doctors. That being said, I am seen by nurse practitioners in these offices and I’ve never had a bad experience with one. This is primarily because they are practicing in their areas of specialty. If a NP is being used to “fill a gap” then there will probably be problems, especially if they are not in their area of expertise. I do think they should be closely monitored and encouraged to ask the MD if a situation arises that they may be unsure about.
NP’s are wonderful. I would use them all the time I with full confidence thank you!!!!!!!!!!!
Maybe I am a bit behind the times but the legislation is ancient in Florida as it relates to precedent. EVERY other state……EVERY (including Hawaii and Alaska) allows nurse practitioners to provide care within their scope of practice. EVERY state also allow controlled substances (to some degree) to be prescribed. That is EVERY state except Florida. For those who are unaware, not all physicians, physicians assistants or nurse practitioners “know-it-all.” That is why our healthcare system is compartmentalized into specialties. If you practice within your scope, you can provide safe and optimal healthcare. I can provide statistical data as well that would support nurse practitioners having increased responsibilities across the board. Please educate yourselves to the role and function of nurse practitioners and physician assistants as the next time you are hospitalized, I can GUARANTEE your health will be in the hands of them as well as physicians. Nurse practitioners ARE NOT surgeons and should not pretend to have such knowledge. There are bad providers at any professional level of care providing. The statement by Rep. Renuart is not accurate in that the education provided to nurse practitioners allows for an expanded scope of practice and it is only the outdated legislation that prevents the healthcare worker shortage from being fulfilled. The educational preparation of registered or licensed practical nurses and those who carry the distinction of “advanced practice” nurse are uniquely different. It is unfortunate that people have such a poor opinion of a profession based on an isolated experience but I can assure you if negligence or malpractice occurs, avenues to seek damages exist. I encourage anyone who believes they have had subpar care or malpractice to report the clinician (regardless of the professional titles and education distinctions following their name) to the state boards and if necessary seek legal assistance.
Horrific idea.
I can’t tell you how many bad experiences I and my family have had with various know-it-all nurses and physician’s assistants. We’re just trying to stay alive out here! Doctors even get things wrong at times!
How about we do something about the physician shortage instead? How about common sense ideas like opening up the healthcare market to the free market system which has been so successful for so long in so many ways?
Why stop at nurse practitioners? How about giving the phlebotomist or the hospital chef some leeway to help people? The local drug dealer is probably as qualified as an NP to prescribe for us!
I have to disagree with the notion that this will reduce costs – every time I have been seen by a NP, the charge is the same as if I had seen the doctor. When I’m sick, I want to see a doctor with full medical school and residency training and experience. Nurses are wonderful people, but they aren’t doctors.
I agree with Rep. “Doc” Renuart. I am 2 for 2 with a bad visit with Nurse Practitioners. My first experience resulted in a C-section for my first born because the NP thought she knew more than the Dr. and did not follow through with instructions specified. The second was a NP telling me “well I have felt lumps like that that were not cancer but I think we will be going down the cancer road with you” Needless to say for 1 1/2 weeks until I went in for additional testing I was very upset. A pre exam before the test did not turn up ANYTHING that the NP reported! The lump she felt was nowhere to be found.